Tribal Policy, Law and Government, LLM
Legal, courts, indian, judicial
Expand your law degree and gain the current legal knowledge you need to work with Native American tribes and businesses. Acquire a detailed understanding of the nature of tribal government and law and policy development within the domestic federal structure.
This LLM program is designed for lawyers and law school graduates who plan to work on issues related to tribal law and federal Indian law at the professional and academic levels.
The Master of Laws program in tribal policy, law and government can be focused in one of three areas: Indian gaming; tribal self-governance; or tribal policy, law and government. Core curricular offerings focus on domestic tribal law, federal Indian law and American institutions of law and government. The program explores the expression of domestic law within contemporary administrative, governmental and judicial institutions.
Home to the nationally known Indian Legal Program, the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law leads the nation in producing graduates specializing in Indian law. Candidates benefit from the extensive resources committed to the Indian Legal Program, including a director, experienced Native faculty and staff, and an Indian law clinic.
Arizona State University is located in the heart of the southwestern U.S., home to roughly one-third of the Native population in the U.S. and where many of the largest Indian nations in the country are located. The university is the academic home for several nationally known scholars researching American Indian issues, and it houses many unique resources for such scholarship, including the Labriola Collection at Hayden Library.
- College/school:
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
The program is administered by the Indian Legal Program and is oriented toward students who seek practical experience in tribal law and federal Indian law. It provides intensive instruction to students who graduated from a law school that had few or no courses in Indian law and who now seek to practice in these areas at a professional level. This degree program requires a minimum of 24 credit hours of study. A thesis is not required. Students immerse themselves in the study of tribal law and federal Indian law, and they apply the knowledge and experience they gain through the practical component of the degree program, which may consist of research projects for tribal courts and governments; state, tribal and federal court practice; and tribal code drafting. Graduates are well equipped for professional positions that require knowledge of and expertise in tribal law and federal Indian law. Students have the option of pursuing the degree on a part-time basis.
Applicants must fulfill both the Graduate College and the College of Law English proficiency requirements.
Admission to the program is competitive. To be admitted, an applicant must have completed a JD degree or law degree at a foreign institution that would qualify the applicant to practice law or pursue license to practice in that country, and have submitted a complete application to the program.
Selection is based on academic background and potential, career experience and ambitions, diversity of experience and background, space and resource limitations in the law school, and the applicant's strength of experience related to the program sought, as well as other factors.
Applicants are encouraged to apply electronically through the Law School Admission Council website: https://www.lsac.org. To be considered complete, the application must include the following:
- the completed LLM application form
- the required application fee
- a resume that does not exceed three typed pages
- a statement of interest that does not exceed 1,250 words, typed and double-spaced
- transcripts from all institutions attended, including the transcripts showing that the bachelor's degree and law degree were conferred
- two letters of recommendation
- a writing sample
Transcripts and letters of recommendation or evaluations must be submitted through the Law School Admissions Council's Credential Assembly Service and are provided to ASU Law by LSAC.
Students should see the program website for application deadlines.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of lawyers is projected to grow 9% between 2020 and 2030. The Master of Laws in tribal policy, law and government program can lead to a number of opportunities in Indian law, at large, helping current lawyers advance in their careers by refining their leadership skills, becoming fluent with advanced terminology, and developing a keen sense of professionalism.
Graduates of the program are prepared for lucrative careers in government, economic development or health care positions that impact Native populations.
Career examples include:
- chief executive officer
- chief legal officer
- court justice
- election director for Native communities
- judge
- law firm administrator
- law firm partner
- law school professor
- litigation support director
- politician or member of Congress
- private banker for Native communities
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
|
BCLS 420
llmasu@asu.edu
480-965-1474
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
